Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Matías Narváez to join Beziers

Another Argentine prop will be playing professionally in France in the new season with news that 30 year old former Pumas prop, Matías Narváez has signed a contract to play in France´s second division, the Pro d2, for former French powerhouse side, Beziers. Noted for his scrummaging abilities, Narváez, joins the club in an attempt to bolster its frontrow as the French club looks to establish itself in the Pro d2 with the long term objective of an eventual return to the Top 14. Narváez is the second Argentine recruit for the season after secondrower Agustín Smidt was confirmed. He is to join the club from Córdoba Athletic in what is to be his third professional contract. Narváez previously played in France in 2005 for Lyon and also in Italy in 2009-2010 for Cavalieri Prato. His return to the Pro d2 and to French rugby is a surprise in many ways. Most notably is the fact that he had agreed to terms to play professionally at the highest level in Scotland for Edinburgh in the newly named Magners League, the RaboDirect Pro12.

Narváez has played for Argentina at the highest level, winning two caps in 2009 in the South American Championship. He started at loosehead prop vs Chile and was a replacement vs Uruguay several days latter. He has also featured for the Argentina Jaguares in the IRB Nations Cup and Americas Rugby Championship. While returning to Los Pumas may appear to be out of the question he nonetheless has a lot of rugby left in him and could impress in the Pro d2.